Bihar Health Minister Criticized for Shoe Cover on Head
Incident Overview
Bihar’s Health Minister, Mangal Pandey, found himself in the middle of an unusual controversy when he mistakenly wore a shoe cover on his head during an inspection at the Sadar Hospital in Begusarai. The incident occurred while he was preparing to tour the hospital’s ICU ward. Instead of a surgical cap, hospital staff placed a shoe cover—intended for covering footwear—on his head, leading to public criticism and viral photos on social media.
Public Reaction
Social media platforms were flooded with comments, with users mocking the minister’s apparent confusion. One X (formerly Twitter) user posted, “This is Mangal Pandey, Bihar’s Health Minister. He’s responsible for the health of the state, yet he doesn’t know the difference between a shoe cover and a head cover.” Another user wrote, “The minister confused a disposable shoe cover for a surgical head cover during his hospital inspection.”
Criticism from the opposition
The opposition party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was quick to seize on the incident, calling it an example of the broader failures within the state’s healthcare system. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari criticized the incident as an embarrassment for the Bihar administration, suggesting that if this is how the Health Minister is treated, the general public must be facing even worse conditions. He pointed to this incident as a reflection of the poor state of hospital management and infrastructure in Bihar.
Defensive Responses from the Government
In response to the backlash, leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) defended the minister. JDU spokesperson Arvind Nishad referred to the situation as a “human error” and criticized the RJD for politicizing the issue. He claimed that Bihar’s healthcare system had improved under the current government, contrasting it with conditions under previous administrations, where hospitals were allegedly neglected.
BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar also defended the minister, explaining that shoe covers and surgical caps are made from similar materials, which could have confused. He emphasized that the Health Minister was focused on critical work during his visit, including overseeing a new initiative to improve platelet treatments for dengue patients in Begusarai.
Conclusion
The incident, while seemingly minor, sparked widespread discussion about the state of Bihar’s healthcare system. While the opposition used it to highlight systemic issues, the ruling party dismissed it as a trivial mistake, focusing instead on ongoing healthcare improvements.
Source: Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
Priya Bairagi
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
